Yuki was running around in crowd of people looking for kids she was running as she can her wounds was bleeding again because of her movements she stopped the bleeding by ice again and again after looking around for few minutes she can't find them. "Looks like haru saw someone else in surveillance." She whisper softly.
---
On Hinata side.
She just raised the blade.
"Is that so... then try to survive."
Hinata vanished, leaving a crack on the ground.
She swung her sword straight at the man.
CLANG!
A sword made of flames appeared out of nowhere and blocked her attack. Sparks flew between them.
He smirked.
She didn't wait. Hinata stepped forward and attacked again.
CLANG! CLANG!
Their swords clashed again and again.
Hinata pushed him back with every strike. Her power was strong, but her breathing was heavy.
The man jumped back—BOOM!—using flames to blast the ground. He flew in the air and landed behind her.
Hinata turned fast—CLASH!
Their blades met again. The ground cracked under their feet.
"You're already hurt," he said.
Hinata didn't reply. She slashed at him again.
SHHHK!
He blocked it, but the force pushed him back.
Suddenly—WHAM!
His fist, covered in flames, hit her side. She coughed and slid back.
But Hinata didn't fall. She rushed in and drove her knee into his ribs.
THUD!
He grunted in pain.
They both stopped for a second, breathing hard.
Then he spun around—WHOOSH!—his flaming blade cutting through the air. It grazed her arm.
SSSS!
She hissed. Her arm was burned. Blood dripped down.
Hinata stepped back, holding her sword tightly.
The man charged again—FWOOOSH!
She ducked under his swing and slashed—
SLASH!
Her sword cut across his chest. Blood spilled.
"Gah—!"
He stepped back, holding his wound.
Hinata dropped to one knee, still breathing heavily.
Her legs were shaking. But she stood up again.
Tap... tap...
The man raised his sword.
"Still standing?" he asked.
Hinata stared at him without blinking.
Then she moved again.
BOOM!
The man charged again, flames burning around his sword.
Hinata didn't move.
WHOOSH!
He swung hard—
She leaned to the side and dodged.
Then—THUD!
Her elbow slammed into his jaw. He staggered.
Before he could recover—
SLASH!
Her sword cut deep into his side. Blood sprayed out.
"Kh—!"
He stepped back fast, holding his wound.
But she was already in front of him.
CLANG!
A heavy swing. He blocked it, barely. His knees bent from the force.
CLANG! CLANG!
She kept attacking. Each hit pushed him back.
He swung wide—
She ducked, stepped in—
BAM!
A punch straight to his gut.
He gasped.
CRACK!
Hinata drove her knee into his face.
His head snapped back. He flew across the ground and rolled.
She walked toward him, slow but steady. Blood ran down her arm, but her grip was tight.
The man stood up, breathing heavy. His coat was torn, blood dripping.
He raised his sword—
Hinata was already there.
SHHHK!
Her blade went through his shoulder.
"AAH—!"
He screamed.
She pulled it out and kicked him—THUMP!—sending him crashing into a tree.
The flames around him faded.
He couldn't stand.
Hinata stopped. She looked down at him.
But then—
Drip... drip...
Blood ran down her side. Her sword slipped a little from her hand.
She took a step—STUMBLE.
Her vision blurred.
She dropped to her knees.
"Damn it..." she whispered.
Then—THUD.
She collapsed.
Unconscious.
The man, barely alive, looked at her and smiled weakly.
"Lucky me..."
"she really is a monster." He whispered.
----
As Ryuto lay unconscious, silence pressed down on the battlefield. The storm still rumbled above, but the rain had lightened to a soft drizzle, as if the sky itself were exhausted from the chaos.
Then, gently—almost like a dream—warmth spread through Ryuto's body. The burning in his lungs faded. The stinging cuts across his skin soothed, and the poison that had gnawed at him moments ago dissolved into nothing. It was like the world itself had paused to breathe.
A hand rested lightly on his head—calm, steady, and full of life.
Ryuto's eyes fluttered open, just barely. Through the haze, he saw a familiar figure kneeling beside him. White hair damp from the rain, eyes glowing softly in the dark.
he breathed, voice raspy. "boss…"
Jin exhaled with a small shake of his head, gently pressing his hand against Ryuto's forehead.
"Didn't I say anything." he muttered, voice quiet.
A faint smile formed on Ryuto's lips, tired but real. "Okay… boss…" he whispered, then let his eyes close again, finally giving in to sleep.
Jin remained still for a moment, letting his hand linger as the last of Ryuto's wounds sealed shut—no scars, no pain. Just peace.
He stood slowly, glancing around the battlefield. Ren and Rei were still unconscious, steam rising faintly from their bodies. The rain danced lightly on the broken ground, washing away the blood.
Without a sound, Jin vanished into the mist, leaving behind nothing but the faint warmth he brought with him.
---
Hinata's body hit the ground with a dull thud, her breathing faint and uneven. The battlefield had fallen into a tense silence.
The eyepatch man, blood dripping from his mouth, somehow forced himself up. His body trembled, skin burned and torn—but his hatred burned hotter than any wound. Gritting his teeth, he brought both hands together.
FWOOSH.
A sword of pure flame burst into existence, the fire writhing like a living serpent. He raised it above his head, every ounce of strength packed into one final killing blow.
With a snarl, he struck down toward Hinata's motionless form—
But before the flames could even touch her…
SLASH!
A sharp, slicing sound tore through the air.
The man froze mid-motion. His eyes widened. Then—thump… thump—his severed hands hit the ground before he even felt the pain.
"AAAAARGHH!!" he screamed, stumbling backward and collapsing onto the tree behind him. His voice was hoarse, wild with agony as he writhed, staring at the blood spraying from his wrists… and the figure now sitting beside Hinata.
Jin.
His presence was calm, yet absolute—like the eye of a storm.
The rain hissed as it met the heat of the burning sword, now vanishing into flickering embers. Steam rose from the shattered ground. Jin didn't even look at the screaming man. He simply placed a hand gently on Hinata's head.
A soft hum of energy pulsed from his palm. Her wounds, once deep and bleeding, slowly began to knit together. Her breathing steadied.
Jin brushed a few strands of hair from her face, his expression unreadable but soft.
"…Sorry I was late," he whispered.
As her skin regained color and the blood washed away with the rain, Jin snapped his fingers.
SHHHK—
A black coat appeared in his free hand, fluttering slightly as if reacting to the warmth of his power. He draped it gently over Hinata's body, shielding her from the cold wind that had begun to blow.
[Chapter 22 end]